I just received an email from Emily, and as always, I'm left re-energized and [nearly] as excited as I was the day I found out I was going to Ghana!!
I don't have time to write now, very behind in school and life, but I'll share a few links with you!!
This is a link to Unicef regarding Millennium Development Goal #2 Achieving Universal Primary Education by 2015 http://www.unicef.org/videoaudio/PDFs/Achieving_Universal_Primary
_Education_in_Ghana_by_2015.pdf
And it just dawned on me that I should explain the MDG's as many may not be aware of them.. look forward for that in another post!! :)
This is the Uniterra website and in some time it will be updated with information on the 2008 participants (including moi!). http://www.uniterra.org/uniterra/en/campus/learn_overseas/
upcoming_seminar.html
Lastly, this is a small page on Uniterra's work with Education in Ghana: http://www.uniterra.org/uniterra/en/our_actions/countries/ghana/
for_basic_education_in_ghana.html, explaining briefly the focus on increasing and retaining the number of girls in school, and promoting gender equality.
Hopefully these websites provide you with some more info, should you be curious!!
And I hope they provide you with ways to further learn about the complexities of Education in Ghana!
Thanks a tonne for reading,
Love Robin
Friday, January 25, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
5. To eat meat, or not to eat meat. That is the question.
Many of you who know me, know that I'm a vegetarian.. probably for about six years now I have been, and it's kinda part of my identity and something I believe in.
However, when in Ghana, I've heard, that it might be culturally insensitive for me to turn down meat offered by my host family, or that meat might be in stews etc that I will be eating.
I will already have so many cultural barriers to hurdle when I arrive in Ghana, and I feel that adding an additional barrier by trying to explain that some crazy Canadians choose not to eat meat will be just adding additional stress.
So I have started to integrate meat into my diet, so I don't have some crazy digestive problems from eating meat in Ghana. I've eaten meat gravy, I eat fish and shrimp, and, wait for it.. this is the big one.. the other night Peter and I went out for dinner and after a long discussion on eating meat or not, Peter handed me his fork with a piece of chicken on it!
And after much hesitation and many attempts to bring the fork to my lips, I ate it!
And guess what- it tastes exactly how I remember it!!! Weird!
So I took the first plunge.. but it's very odd because I still consider myself a vegetarian and can't imagine myself ordering meat at a restaurant for myself... I am still contemplating the realistic-ness of this all, because some have told me that I could get by without eating meat in Ghana..
So what do you think..??
I will continue asking my friends and colleagues who have been overseas, and I fear the MASSIVE PLUNGE of eating red meat.. .. but for now.. the question remains..
However, when in Ghana, I've heard, that it might be culturally insensitive for me to turn down meat offered by my host family, or that meat might be in stews etc that I will be eating.
I will already have so many cultural barriers to hurdle when I arrive in Ghana, and I feel that adding an additional barrier by trying to explain that some crazy Canadians choose not to eat meat will be just adding additional stress.
So I have started to integrate meat into my diet, so I don't have some crazy digestive problems from eating meat in Ghana. I've eaten meat gravy, I eat fish and shrimp, and, wait for it.. this is the big one.. the other night Peter and I went out for dinner and after a long discussion on eating meat or not, Peter handed me his fork with a piece of chicken on it!
And after much hesitation and many attempts to bring the fork to my lips, I ate it!
And guess what- it tastes exactly how I remember it!!! Weird!
So I took the first plunge.. but it's very odd because I still consider myself a vegetarian and can't imagine myself ordering meat at a restaurant for myself... I am still contemplating the realistic-ness of this all, because some have told me that I could get by without eating meat in Ghana..
So what do you think..??
I will continue asking my friends and colleagues who have been overseas, and I fear the MASSIVE PLUNGE of eating red meat.. .. but for now.. the question remains..
Should I eat meat or not????
Friday, January 4, 2008
4. Reflections on the New Year
It is now 2008. Pretty crazy, eh?
2007 was an amazing year for me, in more ways than one. I feel that of all my 21 years, 2007 was the best for my personal development as a person, as a leader, finding my passions, finding great friendships... everything.
It's hard to imagine a year beating 2007 but if any year could do it, it'd be the year I'm in Ghana, I imagine!
I don't believe in luck, but so many things really fell into place this past year and so many opportunities presented themselves to me that I'm very grateful for and appreciative of.
I'm really excited because Ashley, EWB's JF (who goes overseas for 4months this summer) is being placed in Ghana as well!! So I hope to be able to meet up with her when I'm in Ghana, what a trip that will be! My fellow DREDer (our undergrad program).
Unfortunately I still haven't received my WUSC package in the mail yet, but I will tell you some more about the seminar.
End of June I go to Ottawa for a week of training with the other Canadian Students, then we're off to Ghana until August 8th! In terms of funding, WUSC pays for all but $3000 of it.
To some, that seems like a lot that I have to fund raise, but I don't see it as a major challenge.
After all, I am, like most Canadians, VERY FORTUNATE and have amazing people in my life who I'm hoping will sponsor me. I have my first payment of $500 due next week- for that, I will be using my Christmas money, and some assistance from my Mom!!
I'm thinking that end of January/Beginning of February is a good time to send out my sponsorship letters; far enough from Christmas and bills, but not too far from further payments, and gives people enough time to think about it and research the seminar, read this blog perhaps!
After I have examined just how amazingly generous my friends and family are, I will determine any further Fund raising strategies to implement on campus!
So I'm a bit stressed and uncertain about this financial aspect of my journey but I'm confident it won't be too big of a challenge to overcome.
The next challenge is health: I have a travel doctors appointment next week to get all my shots and meds ordered in, book a physical etc, to stay as healthy as possible overseas!
Some info about Ghana: apart from it being an incredible county in West Africa, it's in pretty great shape; in regards to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, they are in excellent shape with a 0-5% Adult HIV prevalence rate, in stark contrast with countries like Zambia and Malawi with rates over 20%. Malaria rates are at 170 reported cases per 1000 people, with around 3000 people dying each year from Malaria. In regards to TB: 367/1000 prevalence rate.
All of this may seem scary to some- like my family members- but again, Ghana is in much better shape than other neighboring African countries, and tourism in Ghana is booming, as it is an English speaking country with [supposedly] friendly people and great food!
The population of Ghana is about 20 million, and the infant mortality rate is about 97 out of every 1000 births.
Life expectancy is just 55-58 years- imagine that in Canada? I'm sure all of us have some incredible, irreplaceable people in our lives who are far beyond 55.
Unfortunately around 40% live below the poverty line, majority of Ghanaians are Christians (63%), but many still follow indigenous beliefs (21%).
In regards to gender and education: secondary school attendance is 41% for boys and just 34% for girls. Literacy rates among grown men: 63% compared with just 46% for adult women- quite a clear inequality. Last crazy fact: the average income per person is $320 American Dollars.
Ghana is a pretty safe country with far less crime and conflict than many other African countries.
Hmm what else.. you can click on the map in my earlier post to see an up close look at Ghana and the two possible cities I'll be placed in (Tamale/Cape Coast)
I think that is all for now, don't want to bombard you with facts and stats!
Enjoy the rest of your holidays!
Looking forward to school starting up again on Monday!
Love Robin
2007 was an amazing year for me, in more ways than one. I feel that of all my 21 years, 2007 was the best for my personal development as a person, as a leader, finding my passions, finding great friendships... everything.
It's hard to imagine a year beating 2007 but if any year could do it, it'd be the year I'm in Ghana, I imagine!
I don't believe in luck, but so many things really fell into place this past year and so many opportunities presented themselves to me that I'm very grateful for and appreciative of.
I'm really excited because Ashley, EWB's JF (who goes overseas for 4months this summer) is being placed in Ghana as well!! So I hope to be able to meet up with her when I'm in Ghana, what a trip that will be! My fellow DREDer (our undergrad program).
Unfortunately I still haven't received my WUSC package in the mail yet, but I will tell you some more about the seminar.
End of June I go to Ottawa for a week of training with the other Canadian Students, then we're off to Ghana until August 8th! In terms of funding, WUSC pays for all but $3000 of it.
To some, that seems like a lot that I have to fund raise, but I don't see it as a major challenge.
After all, I am, like most Canadians, VERY FORTUNATE and have amazing people in my life who I'm hoping will sponsor me. I have my first payment of $500 due next week- for that, I will be using my Christmas money, and some assistance from my Mom!!
I'm thinking that end of January/Beginning of February is a good time to send out my sponsorship letters; far enough from Christmas and bills, but not too far from further payments, and gives people enough time to think about it and research the seminar, read this blog perhaps!
After I have examined just how amazingly generous my friends and family are, I will determine any further Fund raising strategies to implement on campus!
So I'm a bit stressed and uncertain about this financial aspect of my journey but I'm confident it won't be too big of a challenge to overcome.
The next challenge is health: I have a travel doctors appointment next week to get all my shots and meds ordered in, book a physical etc, to stay as healthy as possible overseas!
Some info about Ghana: apart from it being an incredible county in West Africa, it's in pretty great shape; in regards to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, they are in excellent shape with a 0-5% Adult HIV prevalence rate, in stark contrast with countries like Zambia and Malawi with rates over 20%. Malaria rates are at 170 reported cases per 1000 people, with around 3000 people dying each year from Malaria. In regards to TB: 367/1000 prevalence rate.
All of this may seem scary to some- like my family members- but again, Ghana is in much better shape than other neighboring African countries, and tourism in Ghana is booming, as it is an English speaking country with [supposedly] friendly people and great food!
The population of Ghana is about 20 million, and the infant mortality rate is about 97 out of every 1000 births.
Life expectancy is just 55-58 years- imagine that in Canada? I'm sure all of us have some incredible, irreplaceable people in our lives who are far beyond 55.
Unfortunately around 40% live below the poverty line, majority of Ghanaians are Christians (63%), but many still follow indigenous beliefs (21%).
In regards to gender and education: secondary school attendance is 41% for boys and just 34% for girls. Literacy rates among grown men: 63% compared with just 46% for adult women- quite a clear inequality. Last crazy fact: the average income per person is $320 American Dollars.
Ghana is a pretty safe country with far less crime and conflict than many other African countries.
Hmm what else.. you can click on the map in my earlier post to see an up close look at Ghana and the two possible cities I'll be placed in (Tamale/Cape Coast)
I think that is all for now, don't want to bombard you with facts and stats!
Enjoy the rest of your holidays!
Looking forward to school starting up again on Monday!
Love Robin
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